MUSTANG PARENT ALERT
T. L. Marsalis Elementary STEAM Academy
A NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
October 1, 2021
Hello Mustang Families!
We are excited about October days on our campus! We only have two remaining weeks in our first grading period and your child will receive their 6-week progress report this week. You will also be able to view your child's grades by registering for a Parent Portal account, so make sure you set up an account.
Beginning of the year assessments are coming to a close for our PK3 - Grade 5 students and teachers will be sharing this information with you soon. This will allow you to know exactly where your child is academically and help us to ensure that we are providing the appropriate support to them. Our Texas Legislature has approved House Bill 4545 which mandates interventions be provided to all students who did not meet mastery on the 2021 STAAR assessments or did not take the assessment. Therefore, we will be notifying parents of all affected students this week with the interventions and schedule we will implement.
Please know that we began documenting student tardies in our attendance system. We have several students who are arriving to school extremely late on a daily basis. Please know that a large accumulation of tardies will count against a student's overall attendance.
As a reminder, masks are required for students and staff on this campus and in our district. Please ensure that your child is entering our building with a mask and keeping up with their mask at dismissal. As COVID cases continue to rise in Dallas County, we ask that you do your part to help us keep your child and others safe. We are looking forward to another great month at Marsalis! Please let us know if you have any questions.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL REMINDERS
- Our school opens at 7:20 a.m. Only bus riders and PK3 students need to enter at the Scottsboro (bus lane) door. All other students must enter at the front entrance.
- School begins at 7:45 a.m. and a student is tardy at 8:05 a.m. Recording of student tardies has begun and can affect your child's overall attendance.
- Students begin picking up breakfast from the cafeteria with their teachers at 7:40 a.m. and eat in their classrooms. Breakfast concludes in the cafeteria at 8:00 a.m. All students who arrive after this time will miss the breakfast period.
DISMISSAL REMINDERS
- Our school day ends at 3:15 p.m. and dismissal begins at 3:15 p.m. If you would like to pick your child up early, they will need to be picked up prior to 2:45 p.m. Please understand that your child will be missing valuable instruction and parent conferences will be held for students who have frequent early releases.
- If your child is a bus rider or is being picked up by a daycare facility, please be sure to notify your child's teacher.
PARENT PICKUP PROCEDURES
- All persons picking up students will need to have photo ID ready to show. Our scholars will only be released to the persons listed on their enrollment history. If you need to update this information, please contact Mrs. Garcia, CRC, at 972-749-3512.
ACADEMIC UPDATES
- 4th Grade Parents: Mark your calendars for an important Zoom grade level meeting on Tuesday, October 12th. Time and Login information will be sent by homeroom teachers.
- Fall Elementary Parent Conference Night is scheduled for Monday, October 15th. Conferences will be virtual and by appointment until further guidance from our district.
- Our Fall phase of the Afterschool Academy will begin this month for students in need of academic support outside of the traditional school day. Teachers will provide parent notification to all identified students.
- Academic and Enrichment clubs and activities will be kicking off for our students this month! Some of the clubs offered will include our Student Council, Debate Team, Art Club, UIL Academic Competitions, Lego League and Lego League Jr, Destination Imagination, and Robotics.
TECHNOLOGY DEVICES UPDATES
- All returning DISD students will need to bring their devices to campus. This includes all DISD students, not just returning Marsalis students. Our students engage in both hands-on and interactive instruction and will need their devices.
- Great news! Apple IPads for our students in grades PK3 - 2nd grade have finally arrived. Teachers are receiving them for their classrooms this week. They will follow up with you regarding how they will be used at school and at home.
- Dallas ISD will not be replacing any laptop or IPAD chargers that students have lost or misplaced. Please assist your child with their technology needs by purchasing a replacement charger for their device.
Please be reminded of our district's COVID protocols and general rules for student health and wellness:
- If your child is not feeling well or is running a fever, do not bring them to school.
- If you or your child has tested positive for COVID-19 or has been identified as a close contact, please keep your child at home and notify me at 972-749-3506 or at KEdmond@dallasisd.org. Your child will need to quarantine at home.
- The recommendation is that the student be tested 5 to 7 calendar days after exposure. If the student tests negative and is symptom free, they can return to school on day eight (8).
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Nurse Shoemaker
STAY CONNECTED
- Check out our school website (www.dallasisd.org/marsalis) for our teachers' Google site. These sites will provide you with specific information and resources for your child's specific grade level. Click on our "Academics" tab and select "Grade Level Classes" to locate the teachers' pages.
We’re excited about our newly formed Marsalis Parent Advisory Team and we are looking for a few good parents to work alongside our campus leadership team and staff to support our campus. More details to come... If you are interested in being a part of the Marsalis Magic and learning more about this volunteer opportunity, please fill out the link below: https://forms.gle/CncsA43mXTFoBqJA9
TEN TIPS FOR POSITIVE PARENTING
- Be a good role model. Your child learns from the example you set.
- Give your child praise and hugs, and say, “I love you” often.
- Set simple rules and consequences and enforce them consistently.
- Discipline fairly, firmly, and with love. Never use violence or put-downs.
- Always show respect for your child’s thoughts and feelings.
- Spend a lot of time with your child, no matter how busy you are.
- Know what’s going on in your child’s life, both at school and with friends. Especially social media! Social media is very harmful to a child if not monitored properly by an adult!
- Encourage daily learning outside of school, especially reading and math.
- Make sure your child gets enough healthy foods, exercise, and sleep every day.
- Keep your sense of humor and manage stress in healthy ways. If you feel overwhelmed, arrange for some outside help.
If you feel your child needs counseling, click on the link below my name. On the left side of the page, click Meet the Counselor and a drop down displays Parent Needs Assessment and Student Counseling Referral. I encourage everyone to complete the Needs Assessment for every child you have at Marsalis. Use the referral anytime you or your child has a concern that needs addressing.
Your school counselor,
Ms. Telisa Ingram
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
This month, Dallas ISD has provided a series of engaging programs and activities centered around the celebration, empowerment, remembrance, and appreciation of our students' cultural heritages. Check out our district's resources at: https://www.dallasisd.org/HispanicHeritageMonth or https://www.dallasisd.org/herenciahispana
OCTOBER PARENT CALENDAR
Mustang Spirit Gear Updates
WE PROVIDE AN ON-CAMPUS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM
Thomas L. Marsalis Elementary STEAM Academy
Email: KR2404@dallasisd.org
Website: dallasisd.org/marsalis
Location: 5640 South Marsalis Avenue, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: 972-749-3500
Twitter: @marsalis_l